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Tea for Two… Or Just You: Flavours to Fall For on St. Valentine’s Day
Love comes in many forms, and one of the simplest is the love of a perfect cup of tea. What could be better than enhancing the experience with complementary flavours? Here is a list of teas and beautiful pairings to prepare for your loved one. Of course, any tea can…
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Imbolc: Foods of the Festival
It’s St. Brigid’s Day – Imbolc, the start of spring. 🌱 St. Brigid’s Day, the 1st of February Today St Brigid’s Day is marked as a mix of Christian and older seasonal and pagan traditions. Many people make St Brigid’s crosses from rushes, visit holy wells, or leave a Brat…
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Coffee in Kildare: Square, Kildare Town
Today, on St. Brigid’s Eve, I walked the Curragh in Co. Kildare as part of the Kildare Leadership Partnership’s Walk the Mantle guided walk, led by the excellent Pat, Ronan, and Sharon. The rain eased just as we set off through the plains. For anyone unfamiliar with the Curragh, this…
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Kildare Food & Drink: Local Produce in Celbridge
The list below features local food and drink producers in Celbridge, Co. Kildare. Some of the produce listed is not actually sourced in Celbridge, but is available locally, such as the coffee beans that are roasted here. Farms Derrybeg Farm CSA Derrybeg Farm CSA is a community-supported agriculture project, where…
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Ireland’s Medieval Landscape: Round Towers
“Look! Rapunzel’s tower!” This was a comment I heard a little girl excitedly tell her parents in Glendalough car park. She was pointing to the round tower behind the trees with utter glee in her face. Her reaction captures something essential about these structures: their height, their drama, and their…
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Early Irish Farming by Fergus Kelly: A Window into Ireland’s Agrarian Past
I believe it is time for a revival – not necessarily of all the older ways themselves, but in how we think about the land, and of the knowledge and control we once had over what we eat. Ireland is at a crossroads, and much of what once grounded life…
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Mercosur and the Future of European Farming
What is the Mercosur Agreement, and why are so many people protesting it? What does it mean for modern farming? And why does the European Union want us to agree to it? How this will impact Ireland and the rest of Europe, one can only guess. But Europe’s citizens are…
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Let’s Brighten January: Seasonal Mood-Boosting Foods
January can feel long, dark, and chilly, but the right foods can help lift the spirits and restore energy. Even in mid-winter, Ireland provides a range of mood-lifting, nutrient-rich produce. Root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, and celeriac bring natural sweetness and comforting warmth to soups, roasts, and stews. Potatoes provide…
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Oak & Oolite Favourite Books of 2025
This is a collection of books I read and returned to over the past year, each reflecting the themes and values at the heart of Oak & Oolite. From explorations of the land, history, and the flavours of life, to works that inspire connection, resilience, and shared experience, these books…
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Storytime for Ages 6-7: A Surprise Christmas Star
On a cold, frosty December afternoon, Holly put on her sparkly jumper and woolly coat and walked to her friend Cillian’s house for a Christmas party. The house was bright with twinkly lights, paper snowflakes, and happy music. Everyone was laughing and playing games. Soon it was time for food.…
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Solstice and Reading the Sky in Prehistory
At this time of year during the winter solstice, Ireland offers stunning views of sunlight streaming into the chamber of the passage tomb Newgrange in County Meath, one of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments. But what exactly is a solstice, and how did people in the past understand it?…
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Christmas Tree Tea
Have you ever walked past your Christmas tree, gotten that lovely pine needle scent, and thought, “Hmm these smell good enough to eat”? Or, is that just me? Christmas Tree Tea lets you actually enjoy that fresh, evergreen aroma in a cup – made from safe, fresh pine needles and…
